ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — As the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics reach their crescendo in Italy, the Canadian curling world is fixated on a bittersweet transition. While Team Brad Jacobs prepares to battle Great Britain for Olympic gold today, February 21, the man who defined the sport for two decades, Brad Gushue, is beginning the final chapter of his legendary career.
Gushue, now 45, has confirmed that the upcoming 2026 Montana’s Brier—scheduled to begin February 27 in his hometown of St. John’s—will be his final competitive appearance. The six-time Brier champion is eyeing a “fairytale ending” on home ice at the Mary Brown’s Centre, seeking a record-extending seventh national title before retiring from the professional circuit.
A Legacy of Ice and Gold
Born in St. John’s in 1980, Gushue’s impact on Canadian sports is difficult to overstate. His career highlights include:
- Olympic Glory: Captured Canada’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in men’s curling at the 2006 Turin Games, followed by a bronze at the 2022 Beijing Games.
- Brier Dominance: A record six-time Brier champion skip (2017, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024), surpassing legends like Ernie Richardson and Kevin Koe.
- World Stage: Led Team Canada to gold at the 2017 World Men’s Curling Championship with a perfect 13-0 record.
The Changing of the Guard
The 2026 Olympic cycle has seen a shift in the Canadian hierarchy. While Gushue remains a formidable force—recently voted into the first-ever TCG All-Star Game by fans—it is Brad Jacobs who is currently representing the Maple Leaf in the Olympic final in Italy. Notably, Gushue’s long-time second, Brett Gallant, is competing alongside Jacobs, securing a chance at the gold medal that eluded the Gushue rink in 2022.
Recent performances suggest the road to a final Brier title will be arduous. Gushue recently suffered a narrow 7-6 loss to Matt Dunstone at the Montana’s Brier preview event and faced a similar extra-end defeat against Italy’s Joel Retornaz at the AMJ Players’ Championship. However, analysts suggest that Gushue’s “big-game” temperament makes him the sentimental and statistical favourite heading into next week’s national championship.
The Final Stones
For fans in Newfoundland and Labrador, the 2026 Brier represents more than a tournament; it is a province-wide celebration of their greatest sporting export. “He is one of the greatest curlers ever,” noted former teammates in recent tributes. “To finish in St. John’s is the only way this story could end.”
As the Olympic final concludes today in Milano-Cortina, the curling spotlight will immediately pivot west to Newfoundland, where the “Greatest of All Time” prepares to deliver his final out-turn.